im looking for my first jeep, was looking for one with a lift and wheels and tires found a 96 zj with 5.2 249 tcase 175k with what looks like a skyjacker
4in? lift with adjustable control arms 33x12.5x15 tires in good shape, the interior is decent body is a little rough (has a salvage title) the right rocker is bashed in and so is the bottom of both right doors, the rear hatch wont open, feels like the front end needs a rebuild and it steers really hard at slow speeds not sure if it is a steering problem or the vc in the t case is bad. I am a master tech and transmission specialist at a chevy dealer so doing the work is not a problem just not sure if it is a good deal the seller wants 1750 for it. What do you guys think? Oh and the engine and trans seem to be in good shape other than some leaks

 

haha master tech and you dont know how to buy a car ? Where are you from (smog question)? I dont think this is a good buy, You can pick up a pretty decent zj for 3k in 8/10 condition. This guy looks like he has wheeled his already and your gonna be running into some pricey problems at 160k-200k mark. Will you use this as a DD? If so the steering issues is big plus its a salvage title. Leaks could be easy fixes or hard fixes.

I say be patient and find a beauty you can make into a beast. But if you are interested in this make sure you test drive it in stop and go traffic with the ac on in mid day to check the cooling system. Also find out whatsup with the rear hatch. Bring it up on a lift and check it out (being a master tech i shouldnt have to walk you step by step through this). You can find really good reliable xjs for under 3k ( i picked mine up and it has 92000 miles on it stick shift straight body and everything works, all that i need to replace was a water pump but i got it for $3200) being a tech at chevy you can get comercial sale on parts so i would try and find one in good shape with a problem the owner doesnt know how to fix :P but its your call

 

First of all, you do not want a NP249 transfercase. Secondly, you would be better off buying a stocker and install your own upgrades, that way you whats there and don't have to fix somebody elses half a$$ed job. And thirdly, never buy a vehicle with a salvage title, no matter what the seller's story is.

 

i would look for a stocker. i got my 95 in great shape for $2000. if you buy a stocker, theres a pretty good chance it was never driven to hell and back, but if you buy a lifted one, its probably been off roaded to s**t. at least thats been my experience, looked at a couple lifted one before i found mine, and the lifted ones had all kinds of stuff broken. one of them had a broken LCA, just snapped off.

 

my jeep was a stalker with a salvage, but it had a carfax and the guy had pictures of the repair aswell as reciets ect.

 

nice way to welcome someone into the forum, first sentence you basically call him an a-hole, he did say its his first jeep and id say buying them isnt like buying any car he came here looking for answers about a grand cherokee and your replies are based on xjs., way to represent

 

X2!! DB

 

he is a so called master tech at a dealership you would think he would know how to buy a car. plus this isnt intros, he wants my opinion i gave it to him straight up.

 

DB? no its common sense in order to be a master tech you have to have years of shop experience. in those years you would think he would learn a thing or two about cars and plus im just messin around with him SOCAL Bro

 

I think buying a stocker with 4.0 and 231 is prob what I'm going to do. Thanks for the replies. I will just ignore the smart *** one......

 

Hey, I know a ishload about guns, been building and collecting for 25 years now. I will still ask opinions because I don't know everything about every gun. A gun is a gun, but there is a big difference between. Is field stripping an AR the same as an AK? Probably not.

Point is, you don't gotta flame someone for asking questions.

 

yea, you have to ignore a lot of **** around here. Its a jeep forum but there sure are a lot of keyboard cowboys on here who would rather be A$$hats than talk about Jeeps... go figure. good luck with your search.

 

Yeah, stick with the awesome 4.0 and 242 if possible.
I just picked up a 96 with 196K on it and a 2" BB & 31s for $2200....
Put a cone filter and one of my TBs on it and it runs like a scalded dog!